That's why Trinity hires 4-6 for every home game. Let's say each man picks up $75.00, the security they offer makes it well worth the investment.

 

They make a lot more than $75 for the game.

I had a discussion with a very respected Ref about this very issue and he had the following to say:

 

First of all, I would never try to show up or remove a police officer from the sideline. If the crowd was getting rowdy, I would first have the game administration handle it. If that didn't work I would ask the police remove them from where they were. However, crowds are part of officiating - you have to deal with it sometimes. If they were on the track or sideline acting like idiots, I would have them removed. If they were in the stands and acting like idiots, I would take it.

 

Secondly, the KHSAA nor our local association don't have positions on crowd control. As the referee you understand the game administrators are responsible for crowds, media and maintaining order. I have control over the players, coaches and what happens on the field until the clock shows 0:00. How a referee feels he can remove a police officer is beyond me. They're there to maintain order, which obviously didn't happen, but if the referee was treating the officer like garbage, the officer should've let the crowd continue what they were doing.

 

Lastly, at the end of the day my main concern is the safety of my crew. Putting them in a position to be harmed is not okay. If I felt the need to summons an officer of the law, something isn't right. Some schools are notorious for putting crews in harm's way and all you can do is ask for help. You can't demand anyone to do something, who's going to respond favorably to that?

Charges will be dropped.

Charges will be dropped.

 

Probably a good move, please give us a link so we can read the details.

I found a link, politics got involved, the mayor just lost all support of his police department and the new police chief had to do what the mayor wanted.

 

Covington mayor: Charges to be dropped against refs | Home | The Advocate ? Baton Rouge, LA

Probably a good move, please give us a link so we can read the details.

 

Opinion.

I found a link, politics got involved, the mayor just lost all support of his police department and the new police chief had to do what the mayor wanted.

 

Covington mayor: Charges to be dropped against refs | Home | The Advocate ? Baton Rouge, LA

 

DA has not agreed yet.

Opinion.

 

???

DA has not agreed yet.

 

There were some misleading article titles. Any way you cut it the Mayor over stepped his authority. This is between the police officers and the local DA. And the new police chief is milk toast.

Charges will be dropped.

 

Not surprised at all if that's the case. Given the stuff I mentioned in Post #25, this one was a foregone conclusion unless there was something like a video of the ref going ballistic went viral and clearly showed him doing something that no one with any common sense would argue for.

 

Even if the charges are dropped, the ref still spent the night in jail and has his name and a mugshot plastered all over the news. I'd say he's been punished enough even IF it was a lapse in judgment on his part with no physical violence or terroristic threats.

 

The "public intimidation" charge seemed kind of trumped up to begin with. I could see something like disorderly conduct, but I have a hard time believing that a guy with a flag is going to intimidate a guy with a gun.

???

 

After reading it again, I think he was saying that the charges being dropped were his opinion, not something he could have a link for.

 

Maybe I'm wrong on that though.

There were some misleading article titles. Any way you cut it the Mayor over stepped his authority. This is between the police officers and the local DA. And the new police chief is milk toast.

 

 

"The Greater New Orleans High School Officials Association stood behind its officials, saying they would refuse to referee the remaining Covington games of the season if Covington police officers provided security." I don't see them backing the referees if it weren't a case were the situation could have been handled better. Looks like it cost an officer and his chief their jobs.

 

The mayor offers an apology and requests the DA drop the charges.

 

The DA agrees to drop the charges.

 

The department has a new chief.

 

That tells me all I need to know. I think if it were a situation wherein just one or two of those entities had offered their backing, it'd be different. But given the totality of the referee's union, the mayor, and the DA backing the referees, I'm more inclined to believe that maybe the mayor's request is because he thinks it's the right thing to do.

 

See my post above about the referees already being punished enough. We live in Kentucky and are talking about this, so think about what it's like for them and their families in Louisiana.

New chief is in his position for less than a week. I'm curious as to how police force will react to his position.

New chief is in his position for less than a week. I'm curious as to how police force will react to his position.

 

^ Bad, guarantee it.

I've seen some officials who should have been arrested for impersonating officials.*

 

*This is not an indictment of officials in general, who I think do a great job. This is only a comment about bad officials.